The Uganda National Journalism Awards (UNJA) are the most prestigious platform for recognising excellence in journalism in Uganda. Established by by the African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) in 2014, the awards have grown into an institution that belongs to the journalism profession itself. While ACME administers and organises the awards, they are shaped by the profession, judged by the profession, and increasingly seen as the profession’s own measure of what excellent journalism in Uganda looks like.
Over the years, the awards have grown considerably in scale and ambition. Thousands of journalists have participated, hundreds of awards have been presented, and close to 60 media houses take part each year. What began as a national competition has also acquired a regional dimension, with categories that extend beyond Uganda to include journalists working in Kenya and Tanzania.
What the awards stand for
The Uganda National Journalism Awards exist as an instrument for raising standards across the profession. They give journalists a meaningful benchmark against which to measure their work, expose their reporting to rigorous evaluation by a panel of experienced media professionals, and signal to newsrooms and to the public what journalism done in the public interest looks like in practice.
The independence of the programme is central to its value. Judges are drawn from across the media profession and related fields, and their deliberations are conducted without interference. No entry receives preferential treatment on the basis of the outlet, employer, or seniority of the journalist who submitted it. It is this integrity of process that has given the awards their authority and made recognition at the awards a genuinely meaningful professional distinction.
The awards are open to all journalists, whether full-time, freelance, or independent content producers working in Uganda. Submitted work must have been published or broadcast in a Ugandan media outlet or a regional outlet widely accessible in Uganda.
How the awards have evolved
The UNJA have adapted as the media landscape has changed. The format has evolved from assessing single entries to evaluating bodies of work, requiring journalists to submit multiple pieces in a single category. This shift rewards sustained, thematic excellence rather than isolated achievement. The awards have also expanded their thematic scope over time, adding categories that reflect the issues most consequential to Ugandan public life. Institutional categories have also been introduced to recognise media organisations, not only individual journalists, that demonstrate a consistent commitment to quality reporting.
Judging criteria
Entries are assessed by a diverse panel of seasoned media professionals, academics, and experienced news consumers. Judges evaluate work against the following criteria:
- Reporting accuracy and comprehensiveness
- Writing style, language, and storytelling technique
- Originality and enterprise in reporting
- Rigour, depth, and breadth of engagement with the subject
- Skill in the use of journalistic tools for original reporting
- Insight, analysis, and contextual understanding
- Relevance and public impact
Recognition and rewards
Winners in each category receive a cash prize, a commemorative plaque, and a certificate. Runners-up also receive cash prizes and certificates of recognition. Beyond the material awards, the Uganda National Journalism Awards confer professional standing and visibility. For many journalists, recognition at the awards has proved a significant milestone in their careers and a mark of distinction within the industry.
Partners and sponsors
The Uganda National Journalism Awards are sustained through partnerships with organisations that believe in the value of professional journalism. ACME welcomes collaboration with media industry bodies, corporate partners, public sector institutions, civil society organisations, and international development partners who share a commitment to quality public information.
For more information on the awards, including submission guidelines and categories, contact awards@acme-ug.org
